WELSH local government minister Carl Sargeant yesterday backed calls to allow journalists and the public to tweet from open council meetings.

WELSH local government minister Carl Sargeant yesterday backed calls to allow journalists and the public to tweet from open council meetings.

Mr Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, put on the record his support for the principle of broadcasting what happens in the council chamber using social media.

The minister has written to each of the 22 local authorities in Wales asking what arrangements they had in place, or were planning, to allow broadcasting of their proceedings.

His statement followed a stand by Wrexham council banning Daily Post journalist Steve Bagnall “live tweeting” from a meeting to let followers know what was happening at a special customers, performance and resources scrutiny committee.

A further request to tweet from an executive board meeting later that day was also refused by council leader Neil Rogers, who was in the chair.

Some Wrexham councillors have tabled a formal motion calling on the council to change its standing order number 45, which allows the chair of a meeting to prohibit “broadcasting or transmitting”.

The move forced the issue on to the agenda of the full council meeting on Monday, January 21.

The Daily Post asked the Welsh Government what guidance it gave to public bodies over standing orders and was told the local authorities were responsible for drawing up their own rules for the conduct of their meetings.

But a Welsh Government spokesperson said yesterday: “The minister has placed on record his support for the principle of broadcasting the proceedings of council meetings that are open to the public.

“The plethora of modern technology channels now readily available to the public means that this is possible without prohibitive expense and should be seen as a means of increasing public engagement with their local government.

“The minister has recently written to the leader of each county and county borough council in Wales asking them what arrangements they have made or plan to make in relation to broadcasting council meetings. He will be considering their responses shortly.”

l JOURNALISTS will be allowed to tweet from a Wrexham council meeting next week.

Reporters will be allowed to use Twitter freely at Wednesday’s Wrexham council democratic services committee.

The Daily Post asked chairman Cllr Arfon Jones for permission to tweet and he said: “Please feel free to use any social media you wish, Standing Order 45 will be suspended for all meetings whilst I am chair.”

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